Regulator control device



Jan. 2, 1945. K. R. D. WOLFE 2,366,585

REGULATOR CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 14, 1943 Patented Jan. 2, 1945REGULATOR CONTROL DEVICE Kenneth R. D.

Wolfe, Marshalltown. Iowa, as-

signor to Fisher Governor Company, Marshalltown, Iowa.

a corporation of Iowa Application July 14, 1943, Serial No. 494,613

Claims.

My invention relates to a control device whereby an operating member,such as a post mounted for universal movement, may be actuated, forinstance, to selectively control a pair of valves, by means of a handlemounted to swing around the member. a

I will refer to a particular environment in which my control devicemaybe used. In systems using compressed gas in' cylinders for heatingand lighting purposes and the like, it is customary to provide two tanksor cylinders of gas in the installation, the second tank being a standbyor reserve tank which can be connected to the distribution system whenthe first has becomeexhausted. This assures continuity of service with aminimum of inconvenience. In such systems, gas is furnished from onetank until it is empty and then the other tank can be connected for use.

For putting the reserve tank into use, a changeover device is provided.This may include means for closing the valve to the used tank andopening the valve to the reserve tank.

My invention has to do particularly with the change-over device forshutting oif the used tank and'connecting the reserve tank to theservice I line.

Particularly my invention involves an operating member, for controllingsuch valves; mounted for rocking, and preferablyfor universal movement.For actuating the member, I provide a handle mounted at one end to swingaround the member. To impart movement from the handle to the operatingmember without jar or likelihood of injury under any circumstances, Iuse a spring, entirely protected on the inside of the handle andconnected respectively to the handle and the member,

With the objects thus indicated, and with other objects which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists inthe construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of mydevice whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved control deviceassembled in connection with the change-over valves of a system 01' thekind mentioned.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken at a right angle to that ofFigure 1, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the handle with parts of the systemstructure broken away.

I will first describe a change-over structure of the kind with which mycontrol device is used.

My present application is a continuation-inpart of my application SerialNo. 374,711, filed January 16, 1941.

In the accompanying drawing I have used the reference numeral ill toindicate generally a housing. In Figure 1 the housing It) is shown asconnected to lengths of tubing l2, which are intended to convey gas fromsuitable tanks. The housing In consists of two principal parts which Ihave designated as the casing portion 15 and the bonnet portion l8.These two members are connected together by screws 20, and clampedbetween them is a flexible diaphragm 22. A threaded stud 24 passesthrough the diaphragm, and a nut 26 on the stud clamps a disk 28 againstthe diaphragm. A coil spring 30 bears against the disk 28 and issupported by a member 32 which is threaded into the bonnet l8. It willbe seen that the member 32 can be rotated to vary the pressure exertedby the spring 30 against the disk 28 and thus against the diaphragm 22.

In the interior of the casing 16 at the top are passages 40 whichcommunicate with the tubes l2. At the inner end of each passage 40 isformed a valve seat 44.

Inside the casing l6 valve levers 56 are supported on pivots 58. Theends of the valve levers may be provided with removable valve tips 60carrying any suitable type of material for effecting a. tight fit withthe valve seat portion 44. The valve levers 56 are coupled by togglelinks 52 to the third link 64, the latter being pivotally connected alsoto the stud 24, and thus to the diaphragm 22.

Centrally located in the top of thecasing I6 is a bore 65. At the top ofthe bore 66 is 2. diaphragm 68, and flexibly supported thereby is anoperating member or post 12. At the lower end of the post is a footmember 14 having laterally projecting arms 16 and 18.

The diaphragm seal 68 allows flexibility for free movement of the post12, constituting in eifect a pivot for it, but eliminates the problemsassociated with the stufling box or gland such as normally used inconnection with the operating means for a valve or control device.

The head plate 19 has a part which grips the outer edge of the diaphragm68 and a part which extends upwardly in the form of a boss having anannular groove 82 formed therein.

I now turn to the part of the structure to which my present inventionrelates. A hollow handle 84 may be made in two halves 85, 86,

, outer end of the handle 84 by the screw 9|.

The other end of the spring encircles the top end of the post 12, and isretained thereon by a groove 96. The tension of the spring 94 on thepost 12 causes the latter to tip about its flexible mounting in thediaphragm 68, to the inclined position indicated in Figure 1, where thelateral projection 18 bears against the left hand valve member 56. Thepressure thus exerted against the valve member holds its tip 68 in tightengagement with the valve seat 44.

Assuming that a tank of gas is connected to each of the tubes l2 so thatgas pressure exsists therein, gas will flow into the casing l6 throughthe valve seat 44 of the right hand inlet tube l2, when the parts are inthe positions shown in Figure 1. As gas continues to flow into thechamber IS, the pressure therein will increase, and the diaphragm 22 andits associated disk 28 and stud 24 will move downwardly against theforce of the spring 38. Under the pressure exerted by the arm 16, theleft hand valve memher 56 is held in fixed position against the nozzle44 of the connection member, and therefore the lower pivot 98 of thevalve member may be considered as a fixed point for the time being. Asthe stud 24 moves downwardly, then, it will tend to straighten out thetoggle links 62, and thus move the pivot I88 toward the right, whichwill swing the right hand valve lever 56 against its pivot 58 andultimately will close off the flow of gas from the right hand inlet.When this condition has been reached, no further action will take placeuntil some of the gas within the easing it is consumed through theoutlet passage I82, to which the distribution pipe I84 is connected.

When gas is thus used, the pressure in the casing I6 will fall, thespring 38 will cause the diaphragm 22, and hence the stud 24, to rise;the toggle action of the links 82 will draw the pivot I88 toward theleft, will open the right hand valve, and will allow more gas to flow infrom the supply cylinder, until the pressure within the casing is suchto cause the valve to close once more.

It will thus be seen that gas is drawn only from the cylinder connectedto the right hand supply tube 12 of Figure 1.

When that cylinder is exhausted, however, the handle 84 may be swungfrom the position shown in Figure l, to a point 180 from that position.It will be apparent from Figure 1 that when the handle is thus reversedthe pull of the spring 94 on the operating member or post 12 will alsobe reversed. The post will also therefore be tipped in its flexiblediaphragm mounting 68 to the position where its laterally extending arm18 will engage the right hand valve lever 56, holding the latter inclosed position. The pivot I88 will then for the time being be a fixedpoint, and the diaphragm and lever system will cause gas to be admittedfrom the left hand inlet, as viewed in Figure 1. As in the case firstdescribed, a regulating or pressure reducing action occurs, the pressurein the casing I6 being determined by the adjustment of the member 32 inconjunction with the spring 38.

Pressure relief means may be provided to vent excess pressure from thecasing IS in case one of the valve tips 68 should fail to seat perfectlyon the coacting seat 44 due to the presence of foreign matter, or forany other reason. The pressure relief device consists of a diaphragm I88and other parts described in my application Serial No. 374,711. Thecontrol device which is the subject of the present application, is suchthat the spring 94 is entirely protected. The accuracy of its control ofthe operating member 12 is the same whenever the handle is moved.

My handle never sticks. It never jams the operating member, or jerks it.The spring can be easily replaced.

I claim as my invention:

, 1. In a. control device, an operating member mounted for universalmovement, a hollow handle mounted at one end to swing around saidmember, with one end of the member projected into the handle, and aspring in the hollow handle connected to the member at one end and fixedto the handle at the other end, whereby the movement of the handle maybe transmitted to the member through the spring.

2. In a control device, an operating member mounted for rockingmovement, a hollow handle rotatably but non-slidably mounted at one endto swing around said member, with one end of the member projected intothe handle, and a spring in the hollow handle connected to the member atone end and fixed to the handle at the other end, whereby the movementof the handle may be transmitted to the member through the spring.

3. In a control device, an operating member mounted for rocking movementhaving at one end oppositely projecting arms for cooperating with spacedvalves, a hollow handle rotatably but non-slidably mounted at one end toswing around said member, with one end of the member projected into thehandle, and a spring in the hollow handle connected to the member at oneend and fixed to the handle at the other end, whereby the movement ofthehandle may be transmitted to the member through the spring.

4. in a control device, an operating member mounted between its ends forrocking movement, a hollow handle rotatably but non-slidably mounted atone end to swing around said member, a spring in the handle connected atone end to the handle and having at the'other end a swivel connectionwith the member, whereby the swinging movement of the handle willtransmit rocking movement to the member through the spring.

5. In a control device, an operating member mounted for rockingmovement, a hollow handle rotatably but non-slidably mounted at one endto swing around said member, with one end of the member projected intothe handle, and a spring in the hollow handle connected to the member atone endandfixed to the handle at the other end, whereby the movement ofthe handle may be transmitted to the member through the spring, theupper end of the handle being removable for permitting access to thespring, and means for securing the parts of the handle together, saidmeans comprising the means by which one end of the spring is fixed tothe handle.

KENNETH R. D. WOLFE.

